Strapping apparatus



Oct. 13, 1964 K. T. SORENSEN STRAPPINGAPPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 21, 1963 Oct. 13, 1964 K. 1'. SORENSEN STRAPPING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1963 Oct. 13, 1964 K. 'r. SORENSEN3,152,539

STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig? 6 CHAIN.CARRIAGE PRESS START UP DOWN RETRACT UP ,I /O D /ao //l ,54

STOP EXTEND DOWN Q //4 Q Q /08 //z /:4

Oct. 13, 1964 K. T. SORENSEN STRAPPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJune 21, 1963 K. T. SORENSEN 3,152,539

STRAPPING APPARATUS Oct. 13, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21 1963United States Patent "ice 3,152,539 STRAPPING APPARATUS Kresten T.Sorensen, Media, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to FMCCorporation, San Jose, Caiif a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21,1963, Ser. No. 289,635 16 Claims. (Cl. 100-8) This invention relates toapparatus for facilitating the strapping of bundles or articles andespecially to apparatus for drawing a strap about a relatively largebundle to thus position the strap for convenient manual securement aboutthe bundle. In its more particular aspects, the invention relates toapparatus for facilitating, especially in a press, the strapping of aload onto a pallet.

Corrugated paper box blanks and other light-weight but bulky articlesare generally packaged by stacking a relatively large number of themtogether and securing bands about the stack to provide a load which canconveniently be handled by fork-lift trucks. Sometimes the load issecured to a pallet to facilitate the use of the forklift truck andsometimes a pallet is not employed, the entire load then consisting ofthe stacked articles with the bands thereabout. So -called double-facedpallets oifer many advantages and are frequently used for this purposeeven though there are problems involved in threading the hand throughthe pallet between the face thereof. Particularly in the case of paperbox blanks, it is desirable to do the banding or strapping while theload is under compression in a press. The press force is generallylight, usually just enough to squeeze the air from between theindividual articles. Since the individual articles are light in weight,a great number of them may be packaged together and the total height ofthe stack frequently runs six feet or more and this has made for furtherdifficulty in positioning the band thereabout.

While various types of banding material such as wire, rope, and straphave been used for securing large loads of the kind referred to, thepresent invention is particularly advantageous for use with strap. Ingeneral, the invention provides an improved means for pulling an end ofstrapping material from a supply and drawing it about three sides of theload so that an operator may then grasp the strap and draw it about thefourth side and secure the end by suitable means to a portion of thestrap which extends to the supply.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for pulling a strap at least part way about a load in order tofacilitate the securement thereof about the load.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pullinga strap about three sides of a large load which apparatus has improvedmeans for connecting the strap thereto and wherein said improved meansis automatically brought to rest at points of desired attachment of thestrap thereto and detachment therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pulling astrap at least part way about a load which is resting on a double-facedpallet, the apparatus being so arranged as to pull the strap between thefaces of the pallet.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a strap feedingapparatus for positioning a strap around three sides of a large loadwhether or not the load includes a double-faced pallet.

3,152,539 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 Yet a further object of the inventionis to provide a strap feeding apparatus associated with a press whichwill pull a strap end to a certain predetermined position along thepressure platen irrespective of the lowered or elevated position of theplaten.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent as the description of certain preferred embodimentsthereof proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the low er portion of theapparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail in side elevation showing the means forattaching a strap to the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail in end elevation of the mechanism shown inFIG. 4; a

FIG. 6 is a schematic electrical diagram;

FIG. 7 is a view of the control panel for the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the apparatusshowing the manner of using the same with a load supported on adouble-faced pallet; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the apparatusas modified to provide a press.

The framework of the apparatus comprises a pair of vertically extendingchannel members 16 and 11 spaced apart as shown in FIG. 2 and suitablysupported by a base generally indicated at 12. Near the top of themembers 10 and 11, a cross brace 13 is provided and extending cantileverstyle with respect to said members are a pair of parallel arms 14 and 15welded or otherwise secured to cross brace 13. A roller conveyor 16 isprovided alongside upright members It and 11 near the bottom thereof sothat a load 17 may conveniently be moved into strapping position beneatharms 14 and 15.

Extending between the lower portions of members 19 and 11 and securedthereto are a pair of members 18 and 19 between which are secured a pairof vertically extending guide rods 20 and 21. Slidable on rods 20 and 21respectively are sleeves 22 and 23. A channel 24 is secured to sleeves22 and 23 and to one end of channel 24 and to the sleeves 22 is secureda heavy plate 25. A heavy plate 26 is secured to the opposite end ofchannel 24 and to the sleeve 23 and a second channel 27 is securedbetween plates 25 and 26. Plates 25 and 26 together with channels 24 and27 and the sleeves 22 and 23 thus constitute a unit generally designated28 which is slidable up and down on guide rods 29 and 21.

Secured to the underside of member 18 is an air cylinder 29 having apiston rod 39 which is fixed to a bracket 31 extending from channelmember 24 of the unit 28. Air under pressure may be admitted to cylinder29 be neath the piston thereof through a line 32 so as to raise unit 28from the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 wherein sleeves 22 and 23rest on the member 19 to the position shown in FIG. 8 with the upperends of said sleeves abutting member 18. Line 32 is provided with avalve 33 which may be manually operated but more conveniently is asolenoid valve operated by a remote selector switch. Valve 33 isthree-way and in one position admits air from line 32 to cylinder 29 andin another closes line 32 and vents the cylinder to the atmosphere. Withcylinder 29 vented, the unit 28 moves to the down position under theforce of gravity. The purpose in rais- '3 a) ing and lowering unit 28will be subsequently explained.

Rotatably mounted on pins fixed in plate are two pairs of double-flangedrollers, one pair being indicated at 34 and 35 and the other pair at 36and 37. A lance or elongated carriage 38 is guidably supported by thedoubleflanged rollers for movement between an extended position shown infull lines in FIG. 1 and a retracted position shown in FIG. 8. Theretracted position of carriage 38 is indicated in FIG. 1 by dashedlines. A roller chain 39, see FIG. 8, is fixed at one end to a pin 40secured to carriage 38 near the rearward end thereof and at the otherend said chain is fixed to a pin 41 secured to a forward portion of saidcarriage. Intermediate the ends, chain 39 is trained about a pair offreely rotatable sprockets 42 and 43 carried by plate 25 and a sprocket44 secured to a cross shaft 45 which shaft is rotatably mounted inplates 25 and 26. By rotating sprocket 44 in one direction or the other,as will presently be explained, chain 32 moves carriage 38 betweenretracted and extended positions.

As indicated in FIG. 3, a lance or carriage 46 is movably mounted onplate 26 of unit 28. Carriage 46 is mounted and operated similarly tocarriage 38 and the construction is therefore not shown in sideelevation. However, in FIG. 3, a pair of the double-flanged supportingrollers corresponding to rollers 34 and 35 are indicated at 47 and 48and a driving chain 49 corresponding to chain 39 is shown trained abouta sprocket 50 secured to cross shaft 45. Thus, rotation of shaft 45causes the carriages 38 and 46 to move in unison.

Shaft 45 has secured thereto near the center a sprocket 51 connected bya roller chain 52 to a sprocket 53 on the drive shaft of a reversibleair motor 54 mounted on the upper flange of channel member 27 of theunit 28. An air line 55 is connected to motor 54 through a four-waysolenoid operated valve 56. As will presently be more particularlyalluded to, two solenoids control valve 56 so that when one of thesolenoids is energized air is admitted to motor 54 to drive it in adirection to move carriages 38 and 46 to the retracted position shown inFIG. 8 and when the other is energized air is admitted to the motor todrive the motor in the direction to move said carriages to the extendedposition shown in full lines in FIG. 1. A block 57 secured to carriage38 engages the forward edge of plate 25 to limit the retracted movementof the carriage and a block 58 secured to said carriage contacts therear edge of said plate to limit the projected position of the carriage.When the carriage reaches either extreme of movement, motor 54 stalls.

The reason for having two carriages 38 and 46 as well as the two uprightframe members 10 and 11 and two horizontal arms 14 and 15 is so that twostraps may be drawn around the load 17 simultaneously but since inessence the invention is the same whether one or more straps areemployed, only the mechanism for handling one strap will be hereinafterreferred to.

When carriage 38 is in the extended position and unit 28 is in its lowerposition as shown in FIG. 1, said carriage extends between a pair of therollers forming roller conveyor 16 and said carriage is below thesurface of the rollers so that load 17 may be pushed into positionwithout contacting said carriage. Carriage 38, upright 10 and horizontalarm 14 form over-all a generally C- shaped configuration for supportingan endless conveyor in the form of a roller chain 68 as will now beexplained. At the right-hand end beyond the confines of roller conveyor16, a freely rotatable sprocket 61 is mounted on carriage 38. Chain istrained about this sprocket and extends horizontally along the carriageto a sprocket 62, see enlarged FIG. 8, which is rotatably mounted uponthe same shaft that carries the double-flanged roller 3'5. From sprocket62, the chain passes upward more or less along upright 10 to a sprocket53 rotatably mounted on the supported end of upper horizontal arm 14.The chain passes along arm 14 to a sprocket 64 adjacent the free end ofsaid arm and thence back along the arm to a sprocket 65 from which saidchain passes downward and around a sprocket 66 secured to a shaft 67which is rotatably mounted in a pair of brackets 68 and 69 extendingupwardly from member 18, see also FIG. 3. From sprocket 66, the chainpasses upward and about a floating sprocket 70. Sprocket 79 is rotatablysupported by a bail 71 which is connected through a spring 72 to a cable73 which extends upwardly about a pulley 74 to an anchorage 75 on arm14. From sprocket 7t roller chain 60 proceeds downward and about asprocket 76 rota tably supported on plate 25. From sprocket 76, thechain passes to a sprocket 77 carried by carriage 38 from whence thechain extends along said carriage and over an inter mediate sprocket 78and finally back to sprocket 61 at the outer end of said carriage. Thefloating sprocket 70 and its resilient support 72 serve to keep thechain taut for both previously referred to raised and lowered positionsof unit 28.

All of the above referred to sprockets are freely rotatable exceptsprocket 66 which latter serves to drive the chain. Shaft 67, to whichsprocket 66 is connected, is provided with a sprocket 79 which is driventhrough a roller chain 8% from a sprocket 81 secured to the drive shaftof an air motor 82 mounted upon the member 18, see FiG. 8. Motor 82 issupplied with compressed air through a line 83, the admission of air tothe motor being controlled by a solenoid-operated valve 84.

Chain 68 is provided with a strap holding means generally indicated at85 which has a rest position adjacent the extended end of carriage 38beyond the roller conveyor 16. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, aplurality of adjacent pins 86 of roller chain 60 protrude outwardly fromthe side of said chain to form the strap holding means 85 and at thebeginning of a strapping operation, the end portion of a strap 87 ispulled from a supply 88 and snubbed about the extended pins 86 as shownin FIG. 4 to thereby engage the strap with endless chain 60. After thestrap is engaged with the strap holding means 85, motor 82 is set inoperation as will presently be explained to drive chain 69 in a mannerto cause the strap holding means to draw the strap beneath load 17, upalong one side of the load and over the top along arm 14 with the strapholding means 85 coming to rest in the dotted line position shown inFIG. 1 adjacent the outer end of arm 14. The strap is now around threesides of the load and the operator disconnects the end from the strapholding means 85 and pulls upon the free end of the strap and upon aportion extending from beneath the load to the strap supply 88 and joinsthe two portions of the strap together in any suitable manner to therebycomplete the encirclement of the load.

In order to stop the strap holding means at the desired position nearthe outer end of arm 14, a limit switch 151 is provided and this switchis incorporated in a circuit, as will presently be explained, forcontrolling solenoid valve 84 of air motor 82. When the long pins 86 ofthe strap holding means strike the limit switch, motor 82 is stopped andafter a short coasting movement the strap holding means comes to rest inthe dotted-line position shown in FIG. 1. A limit switch LS2 is providedon carriage 38 adjacent sprocket 61, and when the strap holding means 85engages this limit switch, motor 82 is stopped and the chain coastsabout sprocket 61 with the strap holding means coming to rest in thefull line position of FIG. 1. Chain 60 is driven in only one directionand in order to avoid the delay involved in bringing strap holding means85 all the way around from the outer end of arm 14 to the forward end ofcarriage 38, a second strap holding means, generally designated at 92,is provided at a location half way around the length of the chain fromstrap holding means 85. Strap holding means 92 is identical inconstruction with strap holding means 85, and it is equally effectivefor operating the two limit switches LS1 and LS2.

The machine is operated from a control panel shown in FIG. 7 which maybe located in any convenient position. After the operator has engagedstrap end 87 with strap holding device 85 when said device is in thefull line position at the lower right of FIG. 1, he presses the chainSTART button 100 to close a circuit between power lines L1 and L2through lines 101 and 102 to the coil of a relay CR-1, as indicated inthe wiring diagram of FIG. 6. Energizing the relay causes a blade 103thereof to close a circuit through lines 104 and 102 to thus hold therelay coil energized after push button 100 is released. Uponenergization of the relay a blade 105 thereof closes a circuit throughlines 106 and 107 to energize a solenoid 5-1 of the solenoid opera-tedvalve 84 to thus start air motor 82 as aforesaid, to drive chain 60 andstrap holding means 85 around the package to the dotted-line posiion atthe upper right in FIG. 1. As the strap holding means 85 approaches thedotted-line position, it engages and opens the limit switch LS1, whichas indicated in the wiring diagram is in the line 104 of the holdingcircuit of relay CR-l. Thus, operation of switch LS1 de-energizes therelay and opens the circuit to solenoid S1, whereupon valve 84 is closedto thereby stop motor 82 and permit the strap holding means to coast torest in the dotted-line position. There is a STOP push button 188 inline 102 whereby relay CR1 may be de energiZed at any time butordinarily this is used only in emergencies or when making repairs.After disconnecting the strap from the holding device, the operatoragain presses START button 100 to start lair motor 82. When the otherstrap holding device 92 reaches limit switch LS2, the circuit throughlines 102 and 104 to relay CR1 is again broken to de-energize solenoid8-1 of solenoid valve 84 whereupon strap holding device 92 coasts to astop after passing around sprocket 61. It might be noted that limitswitches LS1 and LS2 re-close after being engaged by either of the strapholding devices 85 or 92.

With carriage 38 in the extended and lowered position shown in fulllines in FIG. 1, the apparatus is conditioned for strapping unpalletizedloads which may be shoved into and out of position along roller conveyor16. Since carriage 38 is below the surafce of roller conveyor 16, saidcarriage may be left in the extended position so long as unpalletizedloads are being strapped.

As previously indicated, the apparatus is also intended for use withloads which are supported on double faced pallets, in which case it isnecessary for the carriage 38 to extend through the pallet between theupper and lower faces thereof since it is generally desirable to havethe strap secure the load to the pallet by passing between the faces ofthe pallet. When loads carried by double faced pallets are used,carriage 38 is moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 8, and unit28 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 8 before the load is movedinto strapping position.

As previously mentioned, movement of carriage 38 back and forth betweenthe extended full line position of FIG. 1 and a retracted position shownin FIG. 8 is controlled by reversible air motor 54 which in turn iscontrolled by the two-solenoid actuated four-way valve 56. In the wiringdiagram of FIG. 6, the solenoid which operates valve 56 to admit air todrive motor 54 in the direction to move carriage 38 to the retractedposition is indicated at S3 and the solenoid which admits air to drivethe motor in the opposite direction at S4. Solenoids S-3 and 8-4 are inparallel circuits 109 and 110 respectively controlled by mechanicallyinterlocked push buttons 111 and 112 located on the control panel asindicated in FIG. 7. Op eration of push button 111 closes the circuit tosolenoid S3 and opens the circuit to solenoid 8-4 to thus cause motor 54to drive carriage 38 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 8. When itis subsequently desired to extend carriage 38, push button 112 isoperated to close the circuit to solenoid S-4 and open the circuit tosolenoid S-3. Motor 54 stalls when either stop block 57 or 58 engagesthe plate 25, so that it is not necessaryto regulate valve 56 aftercarriage 38 reaches either of its extremes of movement.

In FIG. 8, a load 114 is shown supported on a double faced pallet 115 inposition to be strapped, and it is apparent that before carriage 38 canbecome positioned between the upper and lower faces of the pallet, it isnecessary not only to retract said carriage but to raise the unit 28carrying the carriage from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the positionshown in FIG. 8. As previously mentioned, unit 28 is raised by admittingair through valve 33 to the lower end of cylinder 29. Preferably, valve33 is solenoid operated and in the wiring diagram of FIG. 6 the solenoidis indicated at S-2 in .a circuit 113 which is opened and closed by aselector switch 114 located on the control panel. With solenoid S2energized, air is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 29 to raise unit28 to the FIG. 8 position with carriage 38 aligned with the openingthrough the pallet 115 and when the solenoid is deenergized the cylinderis vented to the atmosphere so that unit 28 moves down under the forceof gravity to the FIG. 1 position.

After elevating carriage 38 and extending it thnough the pallet, theoperator connects the end 87 of the strap to whichever of the strapholding devices, or 92, is in the strap connecting position anddepresses START button 108 to cause chain 60 to draw the strap throughthe pallet and up and about the load. During the upward movement of thecarriage, the resultant slack is taken out of chain 60 by the floatingsprocket 70 and this may pull the strap holding device 85 or 92clockwise about sprocket 61 to an inaccessible position, so that for thefirst strapping operation after carriage 38 is raised, it may benecessary to operate START button to bring the strap holding device backto the full line position of FIG. 1 before connecting the strap thereto.

It has been previously mentioned that one of the objects of thisinvention is to provide a strap feeding apparatus in association with apress and such an embodiment will now be explained in connection withFIG. 9. In FIG. 9, only the upper portion of the apparatus is shownsince this is the only portion which is different from the apparatusthus far described. The press includes an upright frame member 10corresponding to previously described frame member 10. An arm 14'extends horizontally from near the upper end of upright 10 and said armcarries a cylinder of a press ram 151 to which is secured a platen,genenally designated 152. Press ram 151 may be operated in any desiredconventional manner, hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically. Themovement of said ram may be controlled by a pair of push buttons, 153and 154, provided in the control panel as shown in FIG. 7.

i A roller chain 60 is trained about a freely rotatable sprocket 63' andextends along platen 152 to a sprocket 64 and back to a sprocket 65. Alimit switch'LSl is mounted on platen 152 for operation by a pair ofstrap holding devices simliar to those referred to in the previouslydescribed embodiment, one of said strap holding devices being indicatedgenerally in FIG. 9 at 85. A cable 73 corresponding to cable 73 isconnected through a spring 72' at its lower end to a floating sprocket70' engaged with a loop in chain 60' to keep said chain taut whilepermitting up and down movement of a carriage carrying unit similar tounit 28. Cable 73' extends about a pulley 74' and is connected at 75 toplaten 152 Whereby cable 73 serves to keep chain 60 taut not only duringup and down movements of unit 28, but also during up and down movementsof platen 152. The upper portion of the load to be strapped is shown at17' and said load is supported on a roller conveyor in the previouslyeX-' plained manner, either on a double faced pallet I01 directly on theroller conveyor. The only distinction between this embodiment of theinvention and that previously described is that the FIG. 9 embodimentincorporates the invention intoa press.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. Strap feeding apparatus comprising an endless conveyor, an elementsupporting a portion of said conveyor for horizontal movement, aframework supporting a portion of said conveyor for vertical movementadjacent one end of said element, a longitudinally reciprocatablecarriage mounted on said framework, means directing a portion of saidconveyor longitudinally along said carriage, means for moving saidcarriage back and forth between a retracted position and an extendedposition of substantially vertical alignment with said element, saidcarriage being at a lower elevation than said element, said element,said framework and said carriage forming in side elevation asubstantially C-shaped configuration when said carriage is in theextended position whereby said conveyor will encompass three sides of aload placed within the C-shaped configuration, strap holding means onsaid conveyor for permitting attachment of an end portion of a strap tosaid conveyor, said strap holding means having a rest position adjacentthe outer end of said carriage when said carriage is in the extendedposition, drive means for driving said conveyor so as to move said strapholding means along said carriage, said framework and said elementwhereby a strap attached to said strap holding means is drawn aroundthree sides of a load positioned within the aforesaid C-shapedconfiguration, said strap holding means having a second rest positionalong said element in substantially vertical alignment with saidfirst-mentioned rest position, and means for stopping said drive meansto arrest said strap holding 6 means in the second rest position.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising means for relativelymoving said element and said carriage toward and away from each other,and slack take-up means for said conveyor for preventing the conveyorfrom becoming loose as said element and said carriage move closertogether.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising support means forsupporting a load within the C-shaped configuration formed by saidelement, said framework and said carriage, means for moving said elementtoward said support to compress the load, and slack take-up means forsaid conveyor for preventing the conveyor from becoming loose when saidelement is moved toward said support.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is a rollerchain and wherein a plurality of pins of the chain protrude outward fromthe side of the chain to form said strap holding means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein a plurality of strapholding means are carried by said chain.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising support means forsupporting a load within the C-shaped configuration formed by saidelement, said framework and said carriage, said carriage in the extendedposition being below the load supporting surface of said load supportingmeans.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 comprising support means forsupporting a load carrying pallet within the C-shaped configurationformed by said element, said framework and said carriage, and means formoving said carriage between upper and lower elevations, said carriagewhen in the lower elevation moving beneath the surface of said supportmeans when moved from the retracted position to the extended position,said carriage when in the upper elevation being adapted to pass througha pallet resting on said support means when said carriage is moved fromretracted position to extended position.

8. In an apparatus for facilitating the palletizing of large loads, astationary framework comprising a vertical arm, a substantiallyhorizontal arm extending cantilever style from the upper end of saidvertical arm, a longitudinally movable carriage mounted on saidframework adjacent the lower end of said vertical arm, means for movingsaid carriage back and forth between a retracted position and anextended position of substantially vertical alignment with saidhorizontal arm, said horizontal arm, said vertical arm and said carriageforming a substantially C-shape/i configuration when said carriage is inthe extended position, an endless conveyor, means supporting saidconveyor for movement along said horizontal arm, said vertical arm andsaid carriage, strap holding means on said conveyor for permittingattachment of an end portion of a strap to the conveyor, said strapholding means having a rest position adjacent the outer end of saidcarriage, drive means for driving said conveyor so as to move said strapholding means along said carriage, said Vertical arm and said horizontalarm, and means for stopping said drive means to arrest said conveyorwhen said strap holding means reaches the outer end of said horizontalarm.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for stoppingsaid drive means is actuated by said strap holding means.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said conveyor is a rollerchain and wherein a plurality of pins of the chain protrude outward fromthe side of the chain to form said strap holding means.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 comprising means for raising andlowering said carriage, and means for maintaining constant the length oftravel of said conveyor in both the raised and lowered positions of saidcarriage.

12. In a press, load supporting means having a load supporting surface,a vertical standard alongside said load supporting means, a pressureapplying element located above said load supporting means, an endlesschain, means on said pressure applying element and said verticalstandard for directing the chain therealong, chain carrying meansdirecting said chain beneath the load supporting surface of said loadsupporting means and beyond said load supporting means to a point out ofvertical alignment therewith, strap holding means on said chain forpermitting attachment of an end portion of a strap to the chain, saidstrap holding means having a rest position along said chain carryingmeans out of vertical alignment with said load supporting means, drivemeans for driving said chain so as to move said strap holding means fromsaid rest position to a second rest position along said pressureapplying element whereby a strap attached to said strap holding meansmay be pulled around three sides of a load supported on said loadsupporting means, said second rest position being substantially invertical alignment with said first-mentioned rest position, means forraising and lowering said pressure applying element, said elementcomprising a load engaging platen adapted to compress a load againstsaid load-supporting means when said element is lowered, and slacktake-up means for said chain for preventing said chain from becomingslack when said pressure applying element is lowered.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 comprising manually operablemeans for starting said drive means when said strap holding means is inthe first-mentioned rest position, and automatically operating means forstopping said drive means when said strap holding means reaches the saidsecond rest position.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 comprising manually operablemeans for starting said drive means when said strap holding means is insaid second rest position, and automatically operating means forstrapping said drive means when said strap holding means reaches thefirst-mentioned rest position.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein said chain is a rollerchain and wherein a plurality of pins of the chain protrude outward fromthe chain to form said strap holding means.

16. Strap feeding apparatus comprising an endless chain, meanssupporting said chain in a generally C-shaped configuration havingsubstantially horizontal upper and lower arms, support means forsupporting a load within the C-shaped configuration of the chain, drivemeans for said chain, first and second strap holding means on said chainfor permitting attachment of an end portion of a strap to the chain,said first and second strap holding means having a strap connectingposition adjacent the outer end of the lower arm of the C-shapedconfiguration of the chain, said first and second strap holding meanshaving a strap disconnecting position adjacent the outer end of thelower arm of the C-shaped configuration of the chain, manually operablemeans for starting said drive, and automatically operable means forstop- 10 ping said drive means when either of said strap holding meansarrives at either the strap connecting position or the strapdisconnecting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,325,916 Smirle Dec. 23, 1919 2,420,498 Pojman May 13, 1947 2,632,381Buckland Mar. 24, 1953 2,985,098 Winkler May 23, 1961 3,052,178 HallSept. 4, 1962

12. IN A PRESS, LOAD SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING A LOAD SUPPORTING SURFACE,A VERTICAL STANDARD ALONGSIDE SAID LOAD SUPPORTING MEANS, A PRESSUREAPPLYING ELEMENT LOCATED ABOVE SAID LOAD SUPPORTING MEANS, AN ENDLESSCHAIN, MEANS ON SAID PRESSURE APPLYING ELEMENT AND SAID VERTICALSTANDARD FOR DIRECTING THE CHAIN THEREALONG, CHAIN CARRYING MEANSDIRECTING SAID CHAIN BENEATH THE LOAD SUPPORTING SURFACE OF SAID LOADSUPPORTING MEANS AND BEYOND SAID LOAD SUPPORTING MEANS TO A POINT OUT OFVERTICAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, STRAP HOLDING MEANS ON SAID CHAIN FORPERMITTING ATTACHMENT OF AN END PORTION OF A STRAP TO THE CHAIN, SAIDSTRAP HOLDING MEANS HAVING A REST POSITION ALONG SAID CHAIN CARRYINGMEANS OUT OF VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LOAD SUPPORTING MEANS, DRIVEMEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CHAIN SO AS TO MOVE SAID STRAP HOLDING MEANS FROMSAID REST POSITION TO A SECOND REST POSITION ALONG SAID PRESSUREAPPLYING ELEMENT WHEREBY A STRAP ATTACHED TO SAID STRAP HOLDING MEANSMAY BE PULLED AROUND THREE SIDES OF A LOAD SUPPORTED ON SAID LOADSUPPORTING MEANS, SAID SECOND REST POSITION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY INVERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED REST POSITION, MEANS FORRAISING AND LOWERING SAID PRESSURE APPLYING ELEMENT, SAID ELEMENTCOMPRISING A LOAD ENGAGING PLATEN ADAPTED TO COMPRESS A LOAD AGAINSTSAID LOAD-SUPPORTING MEANS WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS LOWERED, AND SLACKTAKE-UP MEANS FOR SAID CHAIN FOR PREVENTING SAID CHAIN FROM BECOMINGSLACK WHEN SAID PRESSURE APPLYING ELEMENT IS LOWERED.